FREEHOLD – A Howell man was sentenced to fifteen years on charges of attempted armed robbery and attempted burglary in connection with incidents in Howell and Jackson, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
According to Monmouth County officials, on April 18, 2019, Tristan Reyes, 20, of Howell, was sentenced by the Honorable Richard W. English, J.S.C. to fifteen years in a New Jersey State Prison subject to the provisions of the No Early Release Act, for two first degree Attempted Armed Robbery and one third-degree Attempted Burglary.
Officials say Reyes had previously entered a guilty plea on February 19, before Judge English.
The charges stem from three separate incidents in February and March of 2018, in Howell and Jackson.
Officials say in each of the incidents, Reyes observed a female victim shopping alone in a local store, followed the woman inside the store on foot, and ultimately drove behind her to her home. The women ranged from 18-38 years of age.
Officials say, during his plea, Reyes admitted that he followed three women to their homes, whom he did not know after observing them shopping in local malls. He did not know any of the women and was planning on robbing them while armed with a knife however his efforts were thwarted before he could assault the women.
In one instance, after following a Jackson woman home, Reyes went to her front door and pretended to need to use a phone. He was surprised to find her 20-year old daughter was also home and fled the scene. On another occasion in Howell, Reyes followed an 18-year old female around a grocery store and then to her residence.
The victim realized she was being followed and called her father for help. After trying numerous maneuvers to lose the van, the victim drove home, and her father pulled his car out to block any further pursuit.
The van made a U-turn and drove away. On a third instance, Reyes followed a woman as she shopped at several stores and ultimately to her residence. He was observed on video surveillance peering inside her open garage door until the victim’s dog exited the garage and Reyes retreated to his vehicle and ultimately fled the scene.
The Howell Township Police ultimately arrested Reyes on March 9, 2018, after he and his vehicle were identified through store surveillance tapes.
The sentence requires that the defendant serve 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for release on parole. Once released, Reyes will be on parole supervision for a period of five years.
The case is assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Emily Cartmell.
Reyes is represented by Anthony Alfano, Esq., of Lyndhurst.